Right from its first participation in the Latur earthquake relief efforts, BJS realized the detrimental impact any disaster has on the surviving children. All humanitarian agencies involved in relief operations would distribute free food, clothing and medical supplies. The government administration would concentrate on restoring infrastructure and essential services in the affected areas. As such very little attention and effort would be spared for resuming normal educational activities for children. Given this scenario, it was very likely that the children would be without any preoccupation to help them overcome the intense trauma of the disaster. The easy access to all essential things also had the possibility to reduce their motivation to put in their own efforts towards survival. The lack of any activity both physical and mental would make them relive the tragedy over and over again finally translating into irreparable psychological damage.
BJS was the first to recognize these symptoms as an added dimension to any disaster and promptly set to work out the action plan to ensure the educational rehabilitation of the disaster affected children. In Latur, BJS identified around 1,200 children and barely 21 days after the earthquake shifted these children to Pune. BJS took upon itself the responsibility of providing food, shelter, clothing, medical and health support, and above all, education to these children for the next ten years. At this point BJS conceived the idea of building a residential educational facility to serve as a home and to cater to the needs of the disaster affected children from the various districts of Maharashtra.
The Wagholi Education and Rehabilitation Center (WERC) was built in a record time on a 10 acre plot of land with assistance from the World Bank and the Government of Maharashtra and 1200 children from Latur were shifted to this location. Since then the WERC has offered educational rehabilitation to many other children from the Jabalpur earthquake as also the Melghat malnutrition affected, to name a few. 500 students from Jammu & Kashmir affected by the earthquake were also shifted to WERC and assured of undisrupted education. This facility is also made available to the tribal children from Maharashtra for undergoing social and academic education and can be equated to rehabilitation of the deprived sections of the society.
It is with pride that BJS can claim that many of the children have completed their schooling and have continued to their graduation. Many have taken up professional education and have created a future for themselves. A majority of them have been supporting other relief and rehabilitation activities and in a way helping others from their own experiences.
In disasters affecting other regions where it is not practical to relocate the students to the WERC facility, BJS maintains its focus of carrying out Educational Rehabilitation of the children. In Gujarat, post the Bhuj earthquake, BJS immediately swung into action for relief and rescue. Concurrently the BJS team also evaluated the destruction caused to the school buildings and planned out the systematic reconstruction of educational infrastructure. Within 12 days of the disaster, the first school was rebuilt at Shyamakhali and of the 900 students studying here before the earthquake, 500 attended school on this day.
Over the period of 90 days, 368 schools were built from earthquake resistant light-weight pre fabricated material and around 1,25,000 students were back to school. Within the intervening period of reconstruction BJS ensured that the other academic support material like books and stationery was also available to facilitate uninterrupted schooling. Once these 368 schools were properly functional, BJS handed over the administration of these schools to the Gujarat government at the hands of the then Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
A very similar approach was adopted by BJS in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami in Andaman and Nicobar islands where it planned and executed the reconstruction of 11 damaged school buildings and handed them over to the administration in a record time of one year. BJS has been recognized and appreciated by the members of the Indian Parliament for its unique approach and sterling achievements in the area of Educational Rehabilitation.
Right from its first participation in the Latur earthquake relief efforts, BJS realized the detrimental impact any disaster has on the surviving children. All humanitarian agencies involved in relief operations would distribute free food, clothing and medical supplies. The government administration would concentrate on restoring infrastructure and essential services in the affected areas. As such very little attention and effort would be spared for resuming normal educational activities for children. Given this scenario, it was very likely that the children would be without any preoccupation to help them overcome the intense trauma of the disaster. The easy access to all essential things also had the possibility to reduce their motivation to put in their own efforts towards survival. The lack of any activity both physical and mental would make them relive the tragedy over and over again finally translating into irreparable psychological damage.
BJS was the first to recognize these symptoms as an added dimension to any disaster and promptly set to work out the action plan to ensure the educational rehabilitation of the disaster affected children. In Latur, BJS identified around 1,200 children and barely 21 days after the earthquake shifted these children to Pune. BJS took upon itself the responsibility of providing food, shelter, clothing, medical and health support, and above all, education to these children for the next ten years. At this point BJS conceived the idea of building a residential educational facility to serve as a home and to cater to the needs of the disaster affected children from the various districts of Maharashtra.
The Wagholi Education and Rehabilitation Center (WERC) was built in a record time on a 10 acre plot of land with assistance from the World Bank and the Government of Maharashtra and 1200 children from Latur were shifted to this location. Since then the WERC has offered educational rehabilitation to many other children from the Jabalpur earthquake as also the Melghat malnutrition affected, to name a few. 500 students from Jammu & Kashmir affected by the earthquake were also shifted to WERC and assured of undisrupted education. This facility is also made available to the tribal children from Maharashtra for undergoing social and academic education and can be equated to rehabilitation of the deprived sections of the society.
It is with pride that BJS can claim that many of the children have completed their schooling and have continued to their graduation. Many have taken up professional education and have created a future for themselves. A majority of them have been supporting other relief and rehabilitation activities and in a way helping others from their own experiences.
In disasters affecting other regions where it is not practical to relocate the students to the WERC facility, BJS maintains its focus of carrying out Educational Rehabilitation of the children. In Gujarat, post the Bhuj earthquake, BJS immediately swung into action for relief and rescue. Concurrently the BJS team also evaluated the destruction caused to the school buildings and planned out the systematic reconstruction of educational infrastructure. Within 12 days of the disaster, the first school was rebuilt at Shyamakhali and of the 900 students studying here before the earthquake, 500 attended school on this day.
Over the period of 90 days, 368 schools were built from earthquake resistant light-weight pre fabricated material and around 1,25,000 students were back to school. Within the intervening period of reconstruction BJS ensured that the other academic support material like books and stationery was also available to facilitate uninterrupted schooling. Once these 368 schools were properly functional, BJS handed over the administration of these schools to the Gujarat government at the hands of the then Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
A very similar approach was adopted by BJS in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami in Andaman and Nicobar islands where it planned and executed the reconstruction of 11 damaged school buildings and handed them over to the administration in a record time of one year. BJS has been recognized and appreciated by the members of the Indian Parliament for its unique approach and sterling achievements in the area of Educational Rehabilitation.
national concern
educational rehabilitation is not on the priority list of any responding agency
(re) creation of educational infrastructure takes an undue amount of time
social sensitivity
affected children deprived of education for a long period can become social liabilities
necessity to secure the future of the affected children and their related families
need for speedy return to normalcy to avoid post traumatic stress disorder
developmental innovation
rebuilt schools serve as a hub to initiate developmental process
modular and movable infrastructure for schools
relocating affected students to a well established educational infrastructure for undisrupted schooling
mobilizing funding efforts by strategically arranging site visits for decision makers
participatory process
local government agencies and resources are involved in the reconstruction efforts
the local communities are mobilized and trained to provide support to the operations
networking with other like-minded organizations for more effective rehabilitation
sustainable solutions
dedicated facility to cater to disaster affected students (Wagholi Educational Rehabilitation Center, WERC near Pune)
transparent and trustworthy approach with donors' contribution ensures sustained donations
meaningful impact
the otherwise destitute children are now productive citizens of the country
visit of eminent and distinguished dignitaries (former President , Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, for example) to WERC is an acknowledgment of the valuable contribution made by BJS towards Educational Rehabilitation
Latur Earthquake - 1993
Even though various social organizations rushed with the help for the disaster victims, BJS involvement and approach in the rehabilitation works were exceptional. BJS focused more on the traumatized children and their holistic development through quality education.
During his first fortnight stay at the Earthquake-hit area, BJS founder and
National President Shri.Shantilal Muttha observed that worst sufferers of this
tragedy were surviving children. So he decided to adopt and take care of all the expenses including education of 1200 boys from the worst earthquake affected
areas of Latur and Osmanabad districts. Even though 300 girls were willing to move to Pune, BJS decided to rehabilitate only boys considering the socio-cultural factors. The Sanghatana took the requisite permission from the State Government and the parents/guardian for this. In consultation with the Chief Minister, Mr.Sharad Pawar BJS carried out a survey of the children who were willing to come and whose parents had consented to send them to Pimpri for educational rehabilitation. BJS finalized a list of 1,000 such boys from 29 villages in Latur-Osmanabad districts. They also obtained clearance for starting aided Primary and Middle schools, and a Junior College for the children. MSRTC offered 25 buses to bring children from their
hometown to Pune.
On October 25,1993, the auspicious day of Dassera Chief Minister Sharad Pawar and Governor P.C. Alexander flagged off convoy of 25 buses transporting children to Pimpri, Pune. In addition to the 1,000 children screened an additional 400 children boarded the buses. Temporary provisions for their stay were made in Pimpri. Arrangements for 800 children were made at Atmanagar complex owned by Muttha associates, which had 120 rooms on the ground floor. The Divisional Commissioner, Mr.V.P.Rane, inspected the building. Arrangements for the rest of the children were made by PCMC. Subsequently PCMC allowed BJS to shift the children to the newly
constructed four storied school at Sant Tukaram Nagar, Pimpri. Presently the
basement of the building was being used as mess, 25 rooms as residential
quarters and rest as classrooms.
In Melghat (Mharashtra), the lack of elementary education was the main cause of apathy prevailing in that area. Almost all of the tribal schools in this area were in very bad condition. In the Dharni Tehsil in Melghat, the schools were in such a pathetic condition that Government had to close the schools every year in the rainy season due to the seepage of water. About 310 schools of this area, especially the school buildings at Hira, Bambai, Dabida, Bobdo, Golkheda, Patharpur, Gambheri, Ambadi, Rohnikheda, Salai, Nagudhana and Retya were in extremely bad condition. In addition to the poor condition of the tribal schools, the extreme poverty, blind belief in rituals and child marriage were hampering the Educational improvement of the tribal people.
Considering the condition of the tribal schools of that area, the provision of quality education in situ would be quite difficult. More importantly to eradicate the social injustice prevailing in that area, it was felt that the children should get an exposure to the developed world, which would bring about a change in their perspectives. The view was that as they developed progressive thinking, they would serve as a catalyst to bring about social reformation in their community.
BJS, having the previous experience of providing Education rehabilitation to the earthquake affected children of Latur, was confident to adopt the children from the malnutrition affected areas in order to provide them with Quality Educational facilities in Pune.
OBJECTIVES OF THE EDUCATION REHABILITATION PROJECT:
Providing quality all round education and vocational skills.
Exposing the tribal children to the developments in the world.
To change the mindsets of the children with out hampering their cultural backgrounds.
To improve their perspectives on various issues.
Make them aware of the negative effects of vices and superstition.
Help them to develop progressive thinking.
Instill in them moral values, self-esteem and social commitments.
Considering the pathetic condition of the earthquake affected children and their psychological trauma, BJS decided to launch Education Rehabilitation Program for them. BJS already having the successful experience of rehabilitating earthquake affected children from Latur, was well confident to adopt the orphaned and affected children of Jabalpur for providing them quality education along with counseling to overcome the psychological trauma they were facing after the disaster.
BJS team comprising Mr. Mahendra Surana, Mr. Dilip Gandhi, Mr. Prafulla Parakh and Mr. Madanlal Jain visited the quake - affected villages in Jabalpur. They visited the villages including Bilehari, Tilehari, Gaur, Kudaria, Nim Kheda, etc in Jabalpur. The team informed them about the rehabilitation plans and offered full assistance to them. They also informed them about the Education Rehabilitation Project and assured to take the quake affected children to Pune for better education.
The BJS team met the sarpanchas and prominent persons of the affected area and discussed the plan of adopting the earthquake - affected children for education. They all very well appreciated the scheme and assured full cooperation. The team also met Minister of Education, Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Pushpraj Singh and appraised him about the project.
With the full support of the authorities and parents, BJS identified 44 promising children from the earthquake-affected villages of Jabalpur for the education rehabilitation project. The focus was on students who were in 5th to 10th standards. On 17th July, 1997 these children reached Pune along with the BJS team by special bus arranged by the Sanghatana. The children were given accommodation in BJS hostel at Pimpri. BJS made all the necessary arrangements for providing them with food, clothes, study materials and all other accessories in the hostel.
As the medium of instruction in Jabalpur is Hindi, it was necessary to provide them educational facilities in Hindi medium school. So they were given admission in S. M. Joshi Vidyalay, Pune.
On the day following the earthquake, 27th Jan, Mr. Muttha contacted people at Mumbai to provide the required relief materials. In particular he contacted the Indian Chamber of Commerce and requested for Food, water, clothing, milk powder and even footwear. Truckloads of these items were sent Directly from Mumbai to the affected areas.
After assessing the damage Mr. Muttha decided that while other agencies carried out normal rescue and relief he would based on his Latur experience go in for the immediate reconstruction and restarting of 50 schools, so that the education of the children did not suffer. He visited the damaged school at Samkhiyali and ordered the reconstruction to start the same day. Mr. Dhanraj Chopra and Mr. Tejmal Gandhi headed the reconstruction team. There were no construction material or laborer available locally; everything had to be got from Ahmedabad. While the school was under construction Mr. Mutttha organized village meetings and motivated the villagers to send their children to school, so that their education was not disrupted.
In a symbolic move the Samkhiyali School constructed by BJS volunteers was inaugurated on the 13th day after the earthquake. As per Hindu custom, after a tragedy there is a ceremony on the 13th day, to mark the ‘getting over of grief period’ and signaling the restarting of the normal worldly life. By the same token the inauguration of the school on the 13th day was to convey the need for getting on with life and putting the tragic past behind. The response was clearly visible in the form of attendance, which were encouraging, 500 on the first day itself. Books & accessories were distributed in the school. The school was constructed in such a way that it would last for 5 to 10 years. This school happened to be the first school to have been constructed and become operative in such a short time period.
For the inauguration Mr. Muttha invited Shri. Suresh Dadaji Jain, former minister of Maharashtra and trustee of BJS. Mr. Jain was so impressed by the project that he declared that instead of the proposed 50, he would help to establish 500 schools. Mr. Bhawarlalji Jain, an eminent trustee of BJS, prepared a standard design for the schools. The design was based on a single storied Prefab structure with a concrete plinth and a roof of polycarbonate Sheet. 368 such schools were constructed within 90 days.
The tsunami struck on 26th December 2004. To BJS HQ at Pune, news came in through the normal media channels. Mr. Muttha directed that a team of BJS should visit Chennai to study the situation and see how BJS could help. Accordingly a team comprising Mr. Sudarshan Jain, Mr. Pradeep Jain, Mr. Gautam Sancheti and Mr.Babulal Oswal left for Chennai on 2nd Jan 2005. Two days later Mr. Muttha also joined this team at Chennai and visited the areas around Chennai. Based on his interaction and assessment of the situation and the BJS expertise in this field Mr. Muttha proposed setting up of a Wagholi like establishment with
a capacity to take in 500 boys orphaned during this disaster. This proposal was not accepted by the Tamil Nadu Government as they did not want BJS to take the responsibility of orphaned children, as the Tamil Nadu Govt, had already done so.
On 18th Jan Mr. Sharad Pawar, the then chairman NDMA met Mr. Muttha at Chennai and suggested that BJS should carry out work at Andaman & Nicobar. Accordingly Mr. Muttha met Mr. Pawar at Andaman on 21st Jan. Mr. Pawar arranged a meeting with the Governor of A & N. Based on the meeting it was decided that the Director Education Department would carry out a survey to identify areas where BJS could help in reconstructing schools. 20 schools in Andaman and 9 schools in Nicobar were identified for this effort. The Chief Secretary Mr. Bhat stated that one month’s time would be required to get this proposal approved by Home Ministry.
11 schools were in need of reconstruction and 9 were excluded because the damage was repairable. With the help of chief engineers the specification,regulation and construction guidelines were finalized. Structural engineers from Pune & Mumbai finalized the designs for the reconstruction for seismic zone 5.
The project was extremely difficult to implement, and required enormous efforts from the BJS team involving volunteers as well as skilled and specialized professionals. All materials as well as the project team had to be brought from the main land to respective sites in the far-flung islands. Overcoming all these adverse conditions, the work was completed successfully and BJS organized a ceremony for handing over each and every school building. Representative of the respective donors handed over the building to the administration.
As the preliminary step BJS and J&K Government jointly conducted a survey of the affected regions of J&K. Government decided to send 500 boys to WERC Pune and a Memorandum Of Understanding was signed for the same.
After finalizing the list of orphans, teachers and superintendent for ERP with the assistance of the Social Welfare and Education Departments, BJS team met the then Honourable Chief Minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad to appraise him about the ERP.
501 boys/orphans selected from various districts of Kashmir reached Srinagar for the flag off ceremony. BJS sent a team of 15 boys, who had earlier been brought to WERC, Pune after the Latur earthquake, to Srinagar for the flag-off ceremony as well as to accompany the 501 boys from J&K to Pune.
As per the responsibilities mentioned in the MOU, BJS made all the necessary arrangements for the lodging of the students and teachers at WERC, Pune. Accommodations for J&K students were arranged in a separate wing of the WERC hostel complex.
Separate classrooms were provided to J&K students at Wagholi school complex. There were only 10 teachers selected from J&K and BJS had to recruit additional faculty considering the total strength of the students.
In order to provide psychological support for the J&K students, BJS signed an MOU with Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health, Pune and Depatment of Psychiatry B.J.Medical College, Pune. According to this MOU, MIMH and Department of Psychiatry Complex, Pune agreed to provide necessary longterm support and assistance to these students.
Wagholi Educational Rehabilation Center (WERC),Pune
On September 30, 1993, when the devastative earthquake hit the unfortunate land of Killari, Sastur & Latur Districts of Maharashtra, imposing unimaginably heavy toll on life and property, about 3,00,000 people lost their homes and belongings. The worst part of the tragedy was that about 5000 children in the age group 1-13 became orphans and destitute.
About 800 BJS volunteers under the leadership of Shri. Shantilal Muttha and the then Chief Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar, swung into action and started rescue and relief operations in a very systematic way within a few hours of the tragedy. Rescue camps were promptly set up, tons of relief material was brought in and 30,000 people were provided food, shelter and other help for a period of one month. Medical aid also flowed in; a team of doctors was in attendance to provide round the clock assistance.
BJS conducted a study-based survey of the amount of destruction the earthquake had caused. Also, each affected place was visited, and the aftermaths were measured. It was observed during the study that, the empty minds of these children would stare with vacant eyes, or run after the load full of trucks bringing food, clothes and other survival related things. If left out without any mental activity, they would brood over the calamity in their hearts and it would make them magnify the disaster; finally translating itself in an irreparable psychological damage. It could also make them indulge in self-pity and render them incapable of self-reliance and self help. This would in turn result in a very low self-esteem. Something had to be urgently done, for getting these children back to study. The slightest delay in getting them back to school would ruin their future. It would result in a large number of school dropouts or worse make them go astray. Because of the general drop in economic activity, many families would face ruin thus exposing the boys to the risk of falling into the hands of unscrupulous elements. There have also been reports in the press that a section of survivors have moved to big cities like Mumbai and Pune and have taken to begging.
After this study, BJS decided to focus its activities, majorly on Rehabilitation & Education of those children, who had lost their parents and families.
Aims of the project
To rehabilitate 1000 orphan & destitute children affected by the earthquake.
To provide food, shelter, clothing, education, medical and health support for a period of ten years.
To provide education and vocational training so that they can, if they desire, to return to their village and contribute to the socio economic upliftment of the area.
To provide emotional support to reduce traumatic effect.
To provide clean safe environment for all-round progress.
To provide adequate facilities for extra-curricular development.
To provide moral & value based support.
To help making these boys responsible citizens by instilling in them a sense of responsibility.
To train these children to enable them providing help in similar disasters in the future.
BJS Action Plan
Survey & Report
After conducting an exhaustive survey of the affected regions, BJS came out with a list of 1200 children, who had lost their families and who needed immediate attention. This list was handed over to Hon. Shri. Sharadji Pawar, for permission for taking care of their educational rehabilitation
Permissions from Government Authorities
BJS submitted an undertaking ensuring that all care would be taken for the well-being of the children. The then Hon. Chief Minister, Shri. Sharadji Pawar, extended his fullest support, in getting the required permissions.
Shifting Children
After merely 21 days, from the day of the Earthquake, 1200 children (orphan) were shifted from the devastated regions of Killari, Latur & Sastur to Pune, on the auspicious day of 'Dassehra' on October 21, 1993. Shri. Sharadji Pawar & the then Hon. Governor, Shri. P.C. Alexander, themselves, gave the 'green signal' for the departure.
Temporary Housing
The 1200 children were brought to Pimpri, Pune and were housed in a building on the Chief Minister's advice. Their following needs were taken care of :
Psychological needs & treatment
Food, Clothing, Shelter
Close care and moral support
Centre for Educational Rehabilitation
A land of 10 Acres was purchased & a building was proposed to be built on it, which would serve as a permanent solution to cater to the needs of various disasters in Maharashtra. The Wagholi Education & Rehabilitation Centre (WERC) building was proposed to be built.
Proposal to World Bank & the Government of Maharashtra
The Government of Maharashtra and the World Bank, were approached. On recommendation from the Government of Maharashtra, the World Bank supported the construction of Wagholi Education & Rehabilitation Centre (WERC).
Building was up....
A large state-of-the art building alongwith all facilities like hostels, laboratories, classrooms, library, of 3 lac sq. feet was built by the World Bank and handed over to BJS.
Shifting Children to WERC
All the 1200 children were shifted to this location & their education started. The children were given free education and housing.
In 1995, when the Jabalpur Earthquake was hit, around 50 children were relocated to Pune by BJS. These children were also moved to WERC for their education and rehabilitation.
Around 400 children from the Melghat Malnutrition affected area were also relocated to WERC, where their education & housing, food, shelter, clothing, medical help, etc. was taken care of.
Thus, the WERC Project has been 100% successful and is considered to be one giving proven results. All the desired results are being achieved & today, this project stands as a source of inspiration for all the schools and educational institutes around.
Results of the project
Complete rehabilitation of the children.
Most of the children, educated in this rehabilitation center have been education upto graduation. Most of them have taken up professional education & have created a future for themselves.
Many of these children have supported subsequent relief & rehabilitation activities, thus helping people get the actual benefit of their own experiences.
Managed professionally by a team of seasoned academicians and specialists, WERC aimed at devoting itself wholly and solely to the betterment of the children under its care.
The children have got a chance to contribute to the society in a meaningful and constructive manner.
RECOGNITION FOR THE BJS WORK
Our Hon. President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, chose 'WERC' as the first destination of his visit, when in Pune. During his visit, he interacted with many young, inquisitive minds. He, alongwith eminent officials, praised the mammoth efforts of BJS, to help children carve a promising future.
